Sunday, August 5, 2012

Coming soon: Playhouse 1/6th scale U.S. Navy VBSS Team 12-inch Figure is not a SEAL

Playhouse will be releasing this 1/6th scale U.S. Navy VBSS Team operator and believe it or not, this figure is NOT a SEAL. US Navy VBSS teams are made up of "regular" sailors and not NSW personnel. Visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) is the term for maritime boarding actions and tactics, designed to capture enemy vessels, to combat terrorism, piracy and smuggling, and to conduct customs, safety and other inspections, as employed by modern navies, marine and maritime services, military and police forces.

This is also a rather current VBSS gear loadout although we might be mistaken to think that this is the late 90s ' early 2000s due to the apparel this operator is wearing. On the contrary, US Navy Sailors are authorised to wear DCU and AOR 2 in combat roles - AOR1(desert) is only allowed for NSW.

The Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU) is essentially the same as the United States military's Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) uniform, only featuring the three-color desert camouflage pattern of dark brown, mint green, and beige, as opposed to the pale green, dark/light brown, beige, and black and white rock spots of the Desert Battle Dress Uniform.

The DCU "coffee stain camouflage" was developed to replace the 6 color desert camouflage "chocolate-chip camouflage" uniform, which was deemed unsuitable for most desert combat theaters. As opposed to the original six color DBDU, which was meant for a rockier and elevated desert battlefield that was often not encountered and replaced the former DBDU. The DCU was meant primarily for a lower, more open, and less rocky desert battlefield space which became a common sight throughout the Gulf War campaign.

The DCU and the BDU was phased out of use with the United States Army in 2005 by the Army Combat Uniform or the (ACU). And by the United States Marine Corps in 2003 by the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform or the MCCUU, as well as the United States Air Force in 2011 along with the Woodland Battle Dress Uniform by the Airman Battle Uniform or ABU, and by some extent in the United States Navy by a Navy blue, Woodland and Arid versions of the Navy Working Uniform the NWU in 2011.

Playhouse never fails to impress me :) They can take something that looks like it has been done before and still make it look fresh and new and updated! And the gears and accessories they can load up on the operator is simply amazing. So much stuff and the guy still doesn't look like he's being bogged down at all. He looks like he's all ready to strike fast, kick a$$ and take names later ;p

Regular sailors in the Navy are eligible to serve aboard VBSS teams depending on the ship's command structure. The majority of US Naval ships that deploy VBSS teams are smaller ships such as guided missile destroyers, guided missile frigates, etc. VBSS teams are used to combat illegal narcotics and arms trafficking and piracy.

Close-up of the Playhouse 1/6th scale U.S. Navy VBSS Team head-sculpt. I see Billy Zane. Some say Shane from Walking Dead or Sam Fisher of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell video game. Going by the name Playhouse has given this figure, "Fisher" seems to be who they were going for.

Check out the cool tattoos on this figure ;p

Check out the amount of gear and stiff he has on him. Bada$$

The work / rescue harness (PMI Avatar Full Body Harness) with the main attachment point above the waistline would most likely be used to gain access to different parts of the ship during searches after the ship has been secured. It's the same type of harness used by rope access workers.

The details on the 1/6th scale Avatar Full Body Harness is just mind blowing! The climbing rope is pretty cool too

I find it rather odd that Playhouse would even include the training versions of their weapons, including magazines and smoke grenade. We do that in our National Service to simulate the actual weight and feel of the items to get an idea of how much weight we'll have to carry if we were fully loaded going into battle / combat but this is 1:6. The figure itself is just a representation of the real deal and the weapons they carry though realistic looking are NOT real. Why do we need a fake 1:6 training version? They don't look good next to the operator at all so why include it? When I first saw the pictures, I thought it was a joke and someone had forgotten to paint it.

Last note: USN VBSS teams are generally armed with Mk 18 or M4 carbines as well as Mossberg 500 shotguns and Beretta M9 pistols. The body armor is generally of the kevlar, law enforcement type with ballistic plate inserts and a buoyant tactical vest that doubles as a life preserver.

Death is a natural part of life, but what happens when it goes rogue? In the not so far off future, the battle between the forces of good ...

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